The Broncos have been dealt another crushing blow, with NRL great Darius Boyd informing the club of his decision to leave Red Hill. Boyd has spent the last three seasons at Brisbane as a crucial member of the club's football department, working closely with the side's backline, in particular star fullback Reece Walsh. The former Broncos captain spent two days a week at the club's training ground as Brisbane's back-five coach and played a vital role in helping develop Walsh's game. Boyd was tasked with taking the flashy fullback through game analysis in a bid to help turn the fullback into the NRL's premier No.1. He also educated the electric fullback about line-running technique and how to best execute three-on-two overlaps - Boyd's trademark. But the Broncos will now have to find a new mentor for Walsh and their other backline stars next season after Boyd informed the club he won't be returning in 2025. News Corp reports the 337-game NRL great had grown concerned with the direction of the Broncos’ football program and had privately advised Kevin Walters of his decision to walk away a week before he was axed as Broncos coach. Boyd was a highly respected member of the Broncos' football department and was especially liked by the club's superstar fullback Walsh. After the Broncos made last year’s grand final, Walsh praised the Queensland great for crafting him into the player he is. "I am very grateful to ‘Darbs’. I wouldn’t be here doing what I am doing without him," Walsh said in the week leading up to the Broncos' 2023 grand-final defeat to Penrith. "Having him close each week and getting tips off him and picking his brain as much as I can ... he has been massive. "I wouldn’t say just this year either. Darbs came to sessions when I was at the EPD (elite player development squad) here in juniors and was teaching us three-on-twos and summing up situations." While Boyd will leave his football department role it is understood he will continue as a mental-health ambassador for the Broncos.
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